Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

100% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
86% of users liked it
(2,127 ratings)

In this addiction melodrama, Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon), a promising adman, meet his future wife Kirsten (Lee Remick) at a party. Once married, the pressures of his business lead Joe to seek solace in liquor. Kirsten joins him in his nocturnal drinking sessions, and before long both are confirmed… More In this addiction melodrama, Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon), a promising adman, meet his future wife Kirsten (Lee Remick) at a party. Once married, the pressures of his business lead Joe to seek solace in liquor. Kirsten joins him in his nocturnal drinking sessions, and before long both are confirmed alcoholics. After several frightening episodes, Joe is able to shake the habit thanks to AA, but Kirsten finds it impossible to get through the day without liquor. The two split up, although Joe clings to the hope that someday he and Kirsten will be reunited, if for no reason other than the sake of their young daughter. J.P. Miller adapted the screenplay from his own 1958 Playhouse 90 television script. Though nominated in several categories, Days of Wine and Roses won only the Best Song Oscar for Henry Mancini's title tune. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 18 min.
Directed By: Blake Edwards
Written By: J. P. Miller
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 26, 1962 Wide
On DVD: Jan 6, 2004

Critic Reviews

Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Grim, strong drama about alcoholism with Lemmon and Remick's stellar work.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Except for the (fake) ending, this is one of Hollywood's best films about the devastating effects of alcoholism, going beyond Wilder's Lost Weekend, and proficiently helmed by Blake Edwards just before the Pink Panther films changed completely his career
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Hollywood doesn't make 'em like this anymore.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

An alcoholic and his wife struggle to give up the drink. This classic film brims with authenticity primarily because of the performances by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. Though he has a few comic moments and scenes in which his character's drunkenness allows him to use comedic… More
An alcoholic and his wife struggle to give up the drink. This classic film brims with authenticity primarily because of the performances by Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. Though he has a few comic moments and scenes in which his character's drunkenness allows him to use comedic physical work, Lemmon creates scenes of moving verisimilitude as Joe Clay. He's at times charming and at others thoroughly tortured. Remick, likewise, is completely lost in the world of alcohol, and her drunken moments are absolutely believable, rarely descending into caricature. The film is superbly constructed, disposing of all the connective tissue and leaving us with only the elements necessary to tell the story. Blake Edwards's direction is pitch-perfect. During the second act, there are a few scenes that seem like a public service announcement for AA. As a drunkard, not an alcoholic, I don't know if all AA meetings begin with the convener reading the organization's list of principles, but regardless, this section seemed false to me. Overall, <i>The Days of Wine and Roses</i> is a fantastic, moving drama about the ravages of alcoholism that stands as one of Jack Lemmon's finest performances.
Reid V

This film has two things going for it: Lemmon's wonderful acting and Edward's camera work. Other than that the film does not earn the emotion that it is attempting to generate. The audience is taken through the developing relationship and subsequent alcohol drenched years at… More
This film has two things going for it: Lemmon's wonderful acting and Edward's camera work. Other than that the film does not earn the emotion that it is attempting to generate. The audience is taken through the developing relationship and subsequent alcohol drenched years at such a brisk pace that it is really hard to get a feel for these characters. What should be a gripping masterwork regarding addiction feels more like a really well acted commercial for AA. Taking into account how groundbreaking this film must have been upon it's release in 1962, I cannot say the film is a bad. It just hasn't aged well.
Jennifer D

Well that was upbeat! I must say that this topic in the early 60s is an original idea. It very well showed an average couple and how drinking became the relationship's vice and then the relationship. Powerfully acted and horribly depressing. Especially if you're an… More
Well that was upbeat! I must say that this topic in the early 60s is an original idea. It very well showed an average couple and how drinking became the relationship's vice and then the relationship. Powerfully acted and horribly depressing. Especially if you're an occasional drinker.
Stefanie C

a groundbreaking, grimly realistic portrait of alcoholism.
Wahida K

This, in its own terrifying way, is a love story.
Veronique K

jack lemmon departs his patterned comedian style to explore another field of serious acting as a thespian in the sentimentalized "days of wine and roses" with debutante starlet lee remick who also offers a excellent tragic performance as hopless alcoholic. the plot goes… More
jack lemmon departs his patterned comedian style to explore another field of serious acting as a thespian in the sentimentalized "days of wine and roses" with debutante starlet lee remick who also offers a excellent tragic performance as hopless alcoholic. the plot goes melodramatic: lemmon is public relation man who cannot refuse to take another drink. remick plays a office lady with indulgence on chocolate that is the typical psychological symptom of potential alcoholic, the infantile fixation on oral pleasure, and her insecure helplessness reflects upon her distant connection with her father, and in one occasion she even dismisses him as demised. the whole flick is like a demonstrative illustration on freud's analysis on alcoholism, and the character traits of drunks. and remick's case represents the perspective that one in lack of paternal intimacy would seek the original solace of oral pleasure which turns into future addiction. and lemmon's case is on the sense of instability of people-pleaser who lives with an obligatory compulsion to comply others that leads the inclination of subconcious dilapidation thru booze which also gratifies a wish to retrack back into adolescence. see the scenario that they shelter in the father-in-law's house then sneak for liquor, and lemmon even desolates the green house for the momentary impulse to obtain a jar of liquor while remick vies for daddy's attention with her own daughter. and later remick's crave for booze companion exemplifies her incapability to handle adulthood solitude. except the acting from lemmon and remick, this flick is a preachy melodrama based on the dated theory of freud. but the symbolism of remick's mental vulnerability is saddeningly lyrical. as she decribes that life without the narcotics is like the close sight of near sea shore, vile and ugly. life under the hypnotization of binge is like the farther horizon of ocean, enigmaticly fair as mirage. "days of wine and roses" is heart-wrenchingly sympathetic with its characters' depressed futility on love and life as a whole. an usual piece from director blake edwards who made his fame on audrey hepburn's "breakfast at tiffany's"...and henry mencini as the music score with catchy bewailing theme on the good times which has fleed away forever.
jay n

Amazing performances from both Jack Lemmon and the great and undervalued Lee Remick but far to sad and real to be considered an enjoyable viewing experience.
Alec B

The performances are great, Jack Lemmon's breakdown scene in the greenhouse is pretty powerful stuff. However what does annoy me is that film's only point its trying to make is 'alcoholism is bad'. I give it props for creating real characters but about half way… More
The performances are great, Jack Lemmon's breakdown scene in the greenhouse is pretty powerful stuff. However what does annoy me is that film's only point its trying to make is 'alcoholism is bad'. I give it props for creating real characters but about half way through the movie it stops being about them and becomes a 'what not to do' story.